Ecotrust is working to support urban agriculture across the Portland Metro region. Access to land, infrastructure, and conservation support is critical for the long-term viability of urban producers and for the overall resilience of our regional food system.

Through this three-year initiative, we are partnering with community-based organizations and farmer networks to expand access to resources, reduce barriers to support systems, and help producers adopt climate-smart practices that improve soil health and reduce risk.

As part of this effort, we are distributing $150,000 in microgrants, facilitating peer-to-peer and on-farm learning opportunities, and providing targeted technical assistance to help producers access the resources most relevant to their goals—including, when applicable, those available through USDA programs.

This work is made possible through strong partnerships with Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms, Oregon Metro, and the Multnomah County Health Department’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Each partner brings deep commitment to advancing access to agricultural resources and support for producers across the region.

2024 Microgrant Awardees

The first round of microgrants was awarded to farmers and farm businesses in the spring of 2025.

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Able Farms PDX came from humble origins, with a motto of “We are Strong, we are Passionate, we are Able.” Able Farms initially started in 2009 as a farm, a land restoration project, and an umbrella for my artistic and culinary endeavors on Wapato Island in Portland, OR. Able Farms PDX has had a successful CSA program; co-created and fostered local farmers markets and the CSA Share Fair; and held numerous fundraisers, dinner collaborations, weddings, and workshops. The farm focuses on raising non-conventional and heritage pastured based livestock. We are a proud member of the Livestock Conservancy. Able Farms PDX specializes in land management, Native restoration, livestock integration, and ecological land assessment. Able Farms PDX still finds moments to curate intimate gatherings that are rooted in agriculture, viticulture, Indigenous principles, artistic installations, and culinary systems; begging questions; and designing avenues around social, spiritual, and food justice issues.

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ahlain wa sahlain! i am iman labanieh and the syrian farmer + herbalist behind baylasan botanicals. my ancestors are rooted in damascus + aleppo, syria, and i was raised by the lands of the Tongva (orange county, ca) and Huichin Ohlone (oakland, bay area). i’m currently a guest on the lands of the Clackamas, Chinook, Cowlitz, and many other peoples who make up the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. along with running baylasan botanicals, i am a care + cultural worker, a fierce dreamer, intention setter, pisces (x4), aspiring dj, and kitty parent.

i have always had the desire to heal and be healed. i found farming and plant medicine in the twisty turny ways that life often works. my journey into healing work began during my teen years, where i interned and volunteered in different community mental health programs. i received degrees in ethnic studies and psychology from the university of california, berkeley before working as a counselor with system-impacted youth in the bay area. yet, i found myself and my work stifled by the limitations of the non-profit industrial complex and the accepted modes of healing in western medicine. it was during this time that i was delving into learning about my ancestral plants + their medicines, and making healing teas and concoctions for myself and my community.

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Copihue Farm is a Portland-based veggie farm focused on soil health and community. When possible, we center Chilean and South American crop varieties.

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Luis Muñoz is a first-generation Latino farmer, born in Mexico City and raised in Portland, Ore. As the CEO of Irie Farm Mushroom Company, a small, family-owned, BIPOC-owned farm, he is committed to sustainable agriculture and high-quality mushroom cultivation. Irie Farm is USDA Certified Organic and Certified Naturally Grown, specializing in gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. Luis recently expanded the business to include the cultivation, processing, and sale of huitlacoche, branded as “Mexican Truffle.” He manages every aspect of the operation, from harvesting and storage to sales and marketing. Having recently shifted from retail to a more strategic sales approach, Luis continues to grow Irie Farm’s presence while advocating for diversity in agriculture and organic farming practices.

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Kasama Farm is a queer, Pilipinx-American-led land, healing, and love project on Wasco and Wishram land in Hood River County, Ore.

A space where queer, trans, BIPOC people can find nourishment and show up in their wholeness.

An intergenerational space to reclaim cultural relationships our ancestors had with plants and plant medicines.

A healthy social environment that is energizing to the soul and honors ritual, creativity and joy.

A community-based and community-supported project.

A space filled with the laughter of children, songs and prayers of our elders, and the many colors, patterns, and sounds of our people.

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Lomita Farm is based in Gresham, Ore. and is stewarded by Gonzalo Garcia Reyes. His vision for the farm is inspired by his family’s legacy as Indigenous Zapotec farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through a weekly CSA share model, Lomita Farm distributes culturally significant foods to dozens of Latinx and Indigenous families each year.

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Momma Nature’s urban farm is a Comprehensive Health Equity Movement (CHEM) innovation hub partner growing organic food for BIPOC and low-income communities in the Portland metro area. CHEM GlobalCampus is an international network of high-tech CHEM ASTEAMM® innovation hubs that pair best-in-class agricultural operating practices, scientific research, and technological advancements with academic curricula, enterprise development, and community reinvestment initiatives.

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Mora Mora Farm is a one-acre, mixed vegetable farm in Troutdale, Ore., established through the Headwaters Incubator Program. We grow over 100 varieties of fresh, seasonal veggies, with a special focus on both Pacific Northwest classics and beloved Asian heritage varieties. We host a thriving CSA program, partner with local restaurants, and work closely with nonprofits addressing food insecurity around Portland.

At Mora Mora, we’re all about healthy soil and sustainable practices. We use compost, cover crops, and minimal tillage to boost soil life and create a thriving ecosystem. Our farming methods go above and beyond organic standards, and our intensive growing practices allow us to maximize production on a small space. We are committed to maintaining a productive and healthy farm system that benefits both the soil and our local community.

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Bria Phillips’ journey with Orange Pippins began in 2017, inspired by gardening adventures with her then three-year-old son George. What started as a seed company creating curated gardening kits for young explorers has grown into a multi-faceted business, with her seeds now delighting gardeners in stores nationwide. Having caught the microgreens-growing bug during the pandemic, in 2024, Bria expanded into urban farming. After a successful first season at Portland’s Shemanski Farmer’s Market, her commitment to nurturing both plants and community has earned her a USDA FSA Urban Agriculture Microgrant. The grant will help Orange Pippins expand into Portland’s world-class restaurant scene and launch its first-ever microgreens CSA program. “Whether I’m hosting planting events with children or providing chefs with unique microgreens,” says Bria, “my mission remains the same – spreading the magic of growing and building connections through food.”

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A Black/woman-owned farm-to-flavor enterprise growing herbs, blooms and seeds for the culinary creations of cultural cuisines.

We reclaim and celebrate the heritage and wisdom of Black-African matriarchal cultures by weaving ecofeminism, cooperative economics and care into the fabric of modern agriculture, land stewardship, and culinary artistry.

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Dorian Campbell, owner of Otter Paw Herbs believes in the regenerative power of Black folks reconnecting with the land. Otter Paw Herbs is committed to producing herbs and herbal products that nourish and support our community without the use of harmful herbicides or pesticides.

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Patchwork Gardens, a network of six gardens in Southeast Portland, is a volunteer-led and operated learning and production-oriented organization. The guiding intentions for Patchwork Gardens is to provide BIPOC access to culturally significant food and to make space for the practice of and communal education of both sustainable farming practices and indigenous food sovereignty.

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More information coming soon!

Microgrant Applications

The application period for the 2024 microgrants has closed. Please email jkwele@ecotrust.org if you have any questions.

Resources

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Building Capacity, Access, and Resiliency for Oregon’s BIPOC and Other Producers – Microgrants 2024

Location: Portland, OR
Funding Amounts: The microgrants program has a total budget of $150,000 for the duration of the cooperative agreement. Applicants can apply for a one-time grant of $5,000. If awarded, funds must be spent by January 31st, 2025.

Convocatoria de solicitudes (RFA)

Fomentando la capacidad, el acceso y la resistencia de los productores negros, indígenas y de color (BIPOC) y otros productores de Oregón – Microsubvenciones 2024

Ubicación: Portland, OR
Montos de financiamiento: El programa de microsubvenciones cuenta con un presupuesto total de $150,000 durante la duración del acuerdo de cooperación. Los solicitantes pueden pedir una subvención única de $5,000. Si se conceden,
los fondos deberán gastarse antes del 1 de diciembre de 2025.

Ombi la maombi (RFA)

Wakala wa Huduma za Shamba la USDA (FSA) Kujenga uwezo, Ufikiaji na Ustahimilivu kwa BIPOC ya Oregon na wazalishaji wengine-Ruzuku ndogo 2024

Mahali: Portland, OR
Kiasi cha Ufadhili: Mpango wa ruzuku ndogo una jumla ya bajeti ya $150,000 kwa muda wa makubaliano ya vyama vya ushirika. Waombaji wanaweza kuomba ruzuku ya $ 5,000 ya wakati mmoja. Ikitolewa If awarded, pesa lazima zitumike ifikapo Januari 31, 2025. Maombi yamefunguliwa: Julai 16, 2024 Maombi yalifungwa mnamo: Agosti 13, 2024, 11:59:00 adhuhuri wakati wa Pacific

misc

And Justice For All Poster

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) …

Website

USDA Farm Service Agency – Cooperative Agreements

Farm Service Agency engages in the following types of cooperative agreements: …

Blog post

USDA funding supports urban agriculture in Portland Metro

A $1.5M cooperative agreement will support utilization of USDA programs among farmers historically underserved or discriminated against by the agency. Ecotrust is among the organizations who will be leading this work in the Portland Metro region.

Press release

$1.5 million investment from the USDA to support agriculture efforts in Portland Metro

August 7, 2023 | A $1.5M cooperative agreement will support utilization of USDA programs among farmers historically underserved or discriminated against by the agency

News

Portland gets federal funding to host one of 17 urban agriculture centers nationwide | Oregon Capital Chronicle

July 25, 2023 | Portland will be home to one of 17 new urban agriculture centers nationwide with a $1.5 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

News

Bonamici, Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Salinas Applaud $1.5M Investment in Pacific NW Urban Farmers | The Skanner

July 24, 2023 | Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Sens. Ron Wyden (OR) and Jeff Merkley (OR) applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s nearly $1.5 million investment in a new Urban Service Center to help urban farmers and strengthen local food systems in the Pacific Northwest.

Community partners talk about growth cycles with farmer Michelle Week, founder of Good Rain Farm, at the Headwaters Incubator Program in Gresham, OR. Photo credit: Kari Rowe

Sabrina Cerquera, Program Manager of Food Systems Equity, and Aaron Vargas, former Ecotrust staff. Photo credit: Kari Rowe

Partners

Project Partners

Black Food Sovereignty Coalition

is a collaboration hub for Black and Brown communities that exists to ignite BIPOC communities to participate as owners and movement leaders within food systems, placemaking, and economic development.

Oregon FSA Office and Urban Service Center

equitably serves all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans.

Oregon Department of Agriculture

serves the changing needs of Oregon’s diverse agricultural and food sectors to maintain and enhance a healthy natural resource base and strong economy in rural and urban communities across the state.

Oregon State University Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems

advances sustainable agriculture, resilient community food systems, and the long-term viability of Oregon’s small and mid-scale farmers and ranchers.

Oregon Metro

is the nation’s first directly elected regional government and serves more than 1.7 million people in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties whose boundary encompasses Portland and 23 other cities region wide.

Multnomah County Health Department Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health

works to develop and implement local, culturally appropriate programs to address a wide range of health disparities among the Black/African immigrant and refugee communities throughout Oregon.